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Story: Penguins

Research

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Research

Tape bands are placed on the flippers of these rockhopper penguins, to identify the same individuals at a later date. The researchers are trying to understand why the Campbell Island rockhopper population has been in dramatic decline. Between 1942 and 1985 numbers fell from 1.6 million breeding pairs to 103,000 pairs – a 94% drop.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10047287

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How to cite this page

Lloyd Spencer Davis, Penguins – Conservation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6393/research (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Lloyd Spencer Davis, published 2 March 2009.